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Up
and running, with support from the top.
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Prime Minister Helen Clark
climbed up and abseiled down a rockwall at the Wellington launch of the
Molenberg FunClimb with speed and agility, demonstrating her enthusiasm
for sportclimbing and her support for the event.
The Prime Minister was in safe hands for the climb, with former Olympian
Ian Ferguson belaying for her at the foot of the wall and managing all of
the safety ropes.
In Auckland, a team of four climbers from the Royal New Zealand Airforce
keen to encourage youth to take up the sport, narrowly defeated a
women’s team in a fun relay to mark the Auckland launch of the Molenberg
FunClimb.
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Dame Susan Devoy and former Commonwealth Games long jumper Jane Kiely
climbed with determination and skill, demonstrating their versatility as
top sports ambassadors.
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National sportclimbing champion Imogen Restall and
accomplished young climber Abby Carrington completed the women’s relay
team, giving the men a serious challenge with 4 seconds separating the two
teams.
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Peter Hillary was on hand to officially start the Molenberg FunClimb in
Auckland, and his son Alexander (4) completed his inaugural climb. Similar launch occasions have been held around the country kicking off
what is said to be the first national FunClimb in the world.
Every pack of Molenberg bread now sports the Molenberg FunClimb logo.
In-store posters and on-pack information explain what consumers need to do
to get their free Molenberg FunClimb tickets.
The
event was developed and is sponsored by baker Goodman Fielder Milling
& Baking. It runs until 31 October, with the last pair of Molenberg
FunClimb tickets issued (in exchange for five Molenberg FunClimb bread
wrappers) on 31 August 2001.
The
Molenberg FunClimb offers New Zealanders the chance to climb one of 15
indoor rock walls in 12 cities:
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The
Rock, 330 Great South Rd, Takanini, Auckland
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Rocknasium,
610 Dominion Rd, Auckland
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The
Rock House, 9 Triton Ave, Mount Maunganui
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Taupo
Event Centre, AC Avenue, Taupo
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The
Wall, 1140 Hinemoa St, Rotorua
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Birkenhead
Leisure Centre, Mahara Avenue, Birkenhead, Auckland
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City
Rock, 55 Taonui St, Palmerston North
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Extreme
Edge, 90 Greenwood St, Frankton, Hamilton
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Ferg’s
Rock ‘n Kayak, Shed 6, Queens Wharf, Wellington
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Hangdog
Climbing Centre, 453 Hutt Rd, Lower Hutt
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Salty
Rock Adventure Centre, 58 West Quay, Ahuriri, Napier |
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Queenstown
Events Centre, Joe O’Connell Drive, Highway 6, Frankton
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Christchurch
YMCA, 12 Hereford Street, Christchurch
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Dunedin
World Fitness Centre, 266 Hanover Street, Dunedin |
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Rosvall
Rockwall, Advocate Stadium, Western Hills Drive, Whangarei |
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Dr
Rex Thomson*, from the University of Otago’s Physical Education faculty,
says: “I am absolutely delighted that Goodman Fielder is taking such a
positive step to help create an exciting environment for young New
Zealanders, and it is this sort of action by the corporate sector which
will help make New Zealand an even better place in which young people can
grow up.”
“It
also sends a positive message to the New Zealand public that it is
possible for the profit motive to co-exist alongside a measure of
community support, and I think that this is vital for our country’s
future”, says Dr Thomson.
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Goodman
Fielder Marketing Manager, and Molenberg FunClimb project leader, Vicky
Taylor says it was important for the company to develop an initiative
which delivered elements which are known to make sport fun. Recent
international sport research confirms that excitement, creativity,
sociability, spontaneity, non-conformity and rebellion are key drivers for
young people in sport. “We’ve developed the Molenberg FunClimb with
those factors a primary priority,” says Vicky Taylor.
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